Crawly School for Bugs: Poems to Drive You Buggy

by David L. Harrison, Julie Bayless (Illustrator)

Overview

This collection of laugh-out-loud poems explores the daily life of insect students and staff at Crawly School for Bugs.

Welcome to Crawly School for Bugs! Termites, stink bugs, gnats, and every insect in between attend this buzzy school where crickets take classes like "How to Be Annoying in 4 Easy Steps." Some students struggle with the temptation to eat fellow classmates, while others deal with a mosquito nurse who always wants to draw blood, or attempt to make friends despite their own microscopic size. With funny illustrations by Julie Bayless, these humorous poems by award-winning author David L. Harrison are perfect for poetry fans and bug enthusiasts alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629792040
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/20/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

David L. Harrison is the author of Bugs: Poems about Creeping Things and Pirates, both NCTE Notable Poetry Books, as well as many other award-winning picture books, poetry books, and nonfiction books for children. He lives in Springfield, Missouri. Visit davidlharrison.com.

Julie Bayless is the author and illustrator of Roar! She graduated from San Jose State University with a BFA in Animation/Illustration and is a member of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators. She lives in Hayward, California. Visit juliebayless.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/05/2018
Writing in rhyme, Harrison imagines a day at a school for insects, who take classes in camouflage, try to control their predatory instincts, and visit the nurse, a mosquito whose prescription for any ailment is to draw blood. Using both traditional and digital media, Bayless offers comedic scenes of anthropomorphic insects decked out in clothes with room for all of their arms. A horsefly stares glumly at a report card that lists a D- for social skills (“Even though/ I feel remorse,/ I must go out/ and bite a horse”), and in “bird class” an array of bugs stand still as can be in the grass as an avian shadow looms (“Don’t twitch a leg./ Don’t shift a wing./ Don’t turn your head./ Don’t move a thing!”). Readers’ school days will look downright dull by comparison. Ages 5–9. Illustrator’s agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary Management. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Poetry and bugs are brought together in this humorously wacky book. This collection will delight young readers and teachers who are in need of entertaining ways to introduce students to poetry. The illustrations match the poems perfectly…for poetry units wherever humor is in demand.” –School Library Journal

“Twenty lighthearted poems imagine the goings-on at insect school. Graceful and humorous, these short poems allude to typical behaviors. With deftly constructed rhyme and rhythm patterns, lively language, and alliteration, his poems have immediate appeal. They're splendidly matched by whimsical cartoons that reward a second look. A cheerful way to make a connection with the natural world.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Writing in rhyme, Harrison imagines a day at a school for insects…Using both traditional and digital media, Bayless offers comedic scenes of anthropomorphic insects decked out in clothes with room for all of their arms. Readers’ school days will look downright dull by comparison.” –Publishers Weekly
 
“Peppy color illustrations and amusing verse combine in this entertaining collection. The lively rhymes nicely complement the delightful, animated multimedia art… with witty, scrutiny-inviting details. (K)ids… will…enjoy the references and humor.” – Booklist

“Readers won’t have to call an exterminator when they open this collection of bug-filled poems. Though the creepy crawlies on the pages have lots of legs and beady eyes, they cheerily share their wisdom through sweet and silly rhymes. Stink bugs, termites, horse flies, and ticks are brought to life in watercolor, ink, and colored pencil illustrations. The traditional meets comic book blended format offers readers a unique visual experience. Not only does this book bring a bunch of chuckles, it would make an entertaining read aloud and serve well as a mentor text for teaching various poetic devices.” – School Library Connection

From the Publisher

04/01/2018
PreS-Gr 3—Poetry and bugs are brought together in this humorously wacky book. Readers will wish they were students at "Crawly School," where there are classes dedicated to camouflage and the nurse is a mosquito (the solution to every ill: "I'd better take some blood"). This collection will delight young readers and teachers who are in need of entertaining ways to introduce students to poetry. Most of the verses rhyme and all are light reads. The illustrations match the poems perfectly, with fine details that personify the bugs being featured. For example, the mosquito nurse is wearing scrubs and teacher bugs are always carrying around grade books and wearing studious glasses. VERDICT Consider for poetry units wherever humor is in demand.—Molly Dettmann, Moore Public Library, OK

School Library Journal

2017-11-27
Twenty lighthearted poems imagine the goings-on at insect school.From arrival to the end of the day, through lessons, lunch, and recess, Harrison places anthropomorphic, familiar insects in a school environment. Graceful and humorous, these short poems allude to typical behaviors. The termites eat everything; the crickets learn to hide and annoy; the school nurse, a mosquito, always wants to draw blood; and the stink bugs…stink. With deftly constructed rhyme and rhythm patterns, lively language, and alliteration, his poems have immediate appeal. They're splendidly matched by whimsical cartoons that reward a second look. Bayless uses watercolor, ink, colored pencil, and digital media to portray the insect scholars and their teachers. These busy "bugs," partially clothed in pants or skirts or shirts and sometimes shoes, are engaged in appropriate activities. A horsefly sadly contemplates the D- minus in Social Skills on his report card. A ladybug attempts to count a page filled with tiny aphids. A squad of insect cheerleaders acrobatically chants the school motto: "NEVER EAT A FRIEND AT SCHOOL!" And the grasshoppers complain: "It's fine to eat / the farmer's crop / but eating US / has got to stop!!" This entertaining new collection would pair nicely with the author's Bugs: Poems about Creeping Things, illustrated by Rob Shepperson (2007), for classroom use.A cheerful way to make a connection with the natural world. (Picture book/poetry. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews